Lens and light emitting unit including same

ABSTRACT

An embodiment provides a lens comprising: a lens body; and a cavity disposed in the lens body, wherein the outer surface of the lens body comprises a first side surface forming an acute angle with respect to the bottom surface and slopping toward a central axis thereof, an upper surface including a flat area, and an inflection part disposed between the side surface and the upper surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to a lens and a light emitting unit including thesame, and more particularly, to a lens which concentrates light on acentral region thereof, has excellent uniformity with peripheral regionsand emits a large quantity of light in one direction, and a lightemitting unit including the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Group III-V compound semiconductors, such as GaN, AlGaN, etc., haveseveral advantages, namely, wide and easily adjustable bandgap energy,and are thus widely used in optoelectronics and for electronic elements.

Particularly, light emitting devices, such as light emitting diodes(LEDs) or laser diodes, which use group III-V or II-VI compoundsemiconductor materials, are capable of emitting visible light ofvarious colors, such as red, green and blue, and ultraviolet light owingto development of element materials and thin film growth techniques, arealso capable of emitting white light with high luminous efficacy throughuse of phosphors or by combining colors, and have several advantages,namely, low power consumption, semi-permanent lifespan, fast responsespeed, safety, and environmental friendliness, as compared toconventional light sources, such as fluorescent lamps and incandescentlamps.

Accordingly, application of the light emitting devices has been extendedto transmission modules of optical communication means, light emittingdiode backlights to replace Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL) whichserve as backlights of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) apparatuses, whitelight emitting diode lighting apparatuses to replace fluorescent lampsor incandescent lamps, vehicle head lamps, and traffic lights.

A molding unit protecting a light emitting structure or wires may bearranged around a light emitting device and, when light passes throughthe molding unit formed of a material, such as silicone, the light isrefracted by the molding unit and thus the molding unit may function asa primary lens.

However, when the light emitting device is used a light source of alighting apparatus, a secondary lens may be used to adjust a lightemission path and the secondary lens is generally referred to as a‘lens’.

A light path may be greatly changed according to materials of the lens,particularly, shapes of the lens, and, particularly, in an application,such as a streetlamp which causes light emitted by a light source toproceed only in a specific direction, i.e., a forward or backwarddirection, the shape of the lens is more important.

A lighting apparatus used as a streetlamp must concentrate light on astreet side rather than a house side and a security light used as alighting apparatus in a designated space must have excellent luminancein a central region thereof, but these lighting apparatuses must have adesignated level of uniformity in edge regions thereof.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a light emitting unit using a light source moduleincluding a light emitting device, which improves luminance in a centralregion thereof and optical uniformity in all areas within a designatedspace.

Further, embodiments provide a lens which concentrates light emitted tothe outside in one direction in a lighting apparatus having a lightsource including a light emitting device, and a light emitting unitincluding the same.

Technical Solution

In one embodiment, a lens includes a lens body and a cavity disposed inthe lens body, wherein an outer surface of the lens body includes afirst side surface sloping toward a central axis at an acute angle withrespect to a bottom surface of the lens body, an upper surface includinga flat area, and an inflection part disposed between the side surfaceand the upper surface.

The inflection part may have a curved cross-section.

The cavity may include a second side surface sloping toward the centralaxis at an acute angle with respect to the bottom surface.

The second side surface may form a curved surface toward the centralaxis.

The second side may converge in an upper region of the cavity, and thecurved surface with curvature may have a discontinuous point in aconvergence region of the second side surface.

An angle formed by the second side surface in the direction of thecentral axis with respect to the bottom surface may be smaller than anangle formed by the first side surface in the direction of the centralaxis with respect to the bottom surface.

A region of the bottom surface of the lens body corresponding to abottom surface of the cavity may be open.

A height from the bottom surface of the lens body to the upper surfaceof the lens body may be 1.8 to 2.2 times a height from the bottomsurface of the lens body to a highest point of the cavity.

A line connecting a central point of a light emitting surface of a lightsource arranged in the cavity to the inflection part may be inclined atan angle of 33 degrees to 38 degrees with respect to the central axis.

A maximum diameter of the outer surface of the lens body may be 1.25times to 1.75 times a maximum diameter of the cavity.

In another embodiment, a light emitting unit includes theabove-described lens, and a light source module arranged in the lens,wherein the light source module includes a circuit board and a lightemitting device, and a light emitting surface of the light emittingdevice is placed within the cavity.

When light emitted by the light source module is incident on the uppersurface, an angle formed by the light emitted by the light source modulewith respect to the central axis may be smaller than an angle formed bylight emitted to the outside through the outer surface of the lens withrespect to the central axis.

When light emitted by the light source module is incident on the sidesurface, an angle formed by the light emitted by the light source modulewith respect to the central axis may be greater than an angle formed bylight emitted to the outside through the outer surface of the lens withrespect to the central axis.

Widths of the light emitting surface of the light emitting device may be40% to 60% of a maximum diameter of the cavity.

A height from the bottom surface to the light emitting surface of thelight emitting device may be 32% to 48% of a height of the cavity.

In accordance with another embodiment, a lens includes a lens body and acavity disposed in the lens body, wherein an outer surface of the lensbody includes a reflection region and a transmission region, and apattern is arranged in the reflection region.

The reflection region and the transmission region may be symmetrical toeach other about a vertical direction of the lens body.

The pattern may be carved in relief or in intaglio on the outer surfaceof the lens body.

When a diameter of the outer surface of the lens body is defined as R₁,a horizontal length of a cross-section of a portion, provided with thepattern, of the reflection region may be 0.7R₁ or more.

The outer surface of the lens body may further include a first sidesurface sloping toward a central axis at an acute angle with respect toa bottom surface of the lens body, an upper surface including a flatarea, and an inflection part disposed between the side surface and theupper surface.

The inflection part may have a curved cross-section.

The cavity may include a second side surface sloping toward the centralaxis at an acute angle with respect to the bottom surface.

The second side surface may form a curved surface toward the centralaxis.

The second side may converge in an upper region of the cavity, and thecurved surface with curvature may have a discontinuous point in aconvergence region of the second side surface.

An angle formed by the second side surface in the direction of thecentral axis with respect to the bottom surface may be smaller than anangle formed by the first side surface in the direction of the centralaxis with respect to the bottom surface.

A region of the bottom surface of the lens body corresponding to abottom surface of the cavity may be open.

A line connecting a central point of a light emitting surface of a lightsource arranged in the cavity to the inflection part may be inclined atan angle of 33 degrees to 38 degrees with respect to the central axis.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a light emitting unitincludes the above-described lens, and a light source module arranged inthe lens, wherein the light source module includes a circuit board and alight emitting device, and a light emitting surface of the lightemitting device is placed within the cavity.

Advantageous Effects

In a lens and a light emitting unit including the same in accordancewith one embodiment, light emitted by a light source module passesthrough a first region of the lens and may thus proceed to a centralregion, as compared to light passing through a second region of thelens. Thus, light passing through the central region of the lens mayproceed at a larger angle, and light passing through the edge region ofthe lens may proceed at a smaller angle.

Therefore, uniformity of light in an area of the outside of the lenscorresponding to the central region of the lens may be improved, andlight may be concentrated on an area within a designated range outsidethe lens.

Further, if the lens or the light emitting unit is arranged such that areflection region thereof faces a house side and a transmission regionthereof faces a street side, light is transmitted only to the streetside and light transmitted to the house side may be blocked or aquantity thereof may be reduced, due to action of a pattern arranged inthe reflection region of the lens and, thus, the lens or the lightemitting unit may be used as a streetlamp.

Further, if the lens or the light emitting unit having theabove-described structure is used as a security light, the lens or thelight emitting unit may concentrate light on some areas of a specificregion.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a lens in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 1b is a perspective view of a light emitting unit including thelens of FIG. 1 a.

FIGS. 2a and 2b are cross-sectional views of the lens of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the light emitting unit of FIG. 2 b.

FIG. 4a is a view of a light source module in accordance with oneembodiment, arranged in the light emitting unit.

FIG. 4b is a view illustrating a light emitting device of FIG. 4a inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5a is a view illustrating a path of light emitted by the lightsource module and discharged to the outside via a first region of thelens.

FIG. 5b is a view illustrating a path of light emitted by the lightsource module and discharged to the outside via a second region of thelens.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating changes in the light paths at both sidesof an inflection part.

FIGS. 7a and 7b are graphs representing change in ratios of incidenceangles to exit angles of light, when a size of the lens is varied.

FIG. 8a is a perspective view of a lens in accordance with a secondembodiment.

FIG. 8b is a perspective view of a light emitting unit including thelens of FIG. 8 a.

FIGS. 9a and 9b are cross-sectional views of the lens of FIG. 8 a.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the light emitting unit of FIG. 9 b.

FIGS. 11a to 11j are views illustrating change in a portion providedwith a pattern in a reflection region of the outer surface of the lens.

FIGS. 12a to 12j are views illustrating light distributions in upper andlower regions of FIGS. 11a to 11 j.

FIG. 12k is a view illustrating light distributions if no pattern isformed on the outer surface of the lens.

FIGS. 13a to 13c are views illustrating pattern distribution ranges inthe reflection region of the outer surface of the lens.

FIG. 14 is a graph representing Table 2.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the annexeddrawings.

In the following description of the embodiments, it will be understoodthat, when each element is referred to as being formed “on” or “under”another element, it can be directly “on” or “under” the other element orbe indirectly formed with one or more intervening elements therebetween.Further, when an element is referred to as being formed “on” or “under”another element, not only the upward direction of the former element butalso the downward direction of the former element may be included.

In addition, it will be understood that, although the relational terms“first”, “second”, “on/above/upper”, “under/below/lower”, etc. may beused herein to describe various elements, these terms neither requirenor connote any physical or logical relations between substances orelements or the order thereof, and are used only to discriminate onesubstance or element from other substances or elements.

Hereinafter, a lens and a light emitting unit in accordance with oneembodiment will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a lens in accordance with oneembodiment, and FIG. 1b is a perspective view of a light emitting unitincluding the lens of FIG. 1 a.

A lens 100 a in accordance with this embodiment includes a lens body,the lens body may be formed of polycarbonate, etc. and include an outersurface 110 exposed to the outside and an inner surface 120 forming aside wall of a cavity formed in the lens body, and the outer surface 110and the inner surface 120 may be connected at a bottom surface 130 ofthe lens body.

Further, a light emitting device module 200 is arranged in the cavity,and the light emitting device module 200 will be described later withreference to FIGS. 4a and 4 b.

FIGS. 2a and 2b are cross-sectional views of the lens of FIG. 1 a.

The lens body and the light source module 200 may be arranged so as tobe bilaterally symmetrical about a central axis Xcenter. In more detail,the outer surface of the lens body may include a first side surface 111sloping toward the central axis Xcenter at an acute angle θ₁ withrespect to the bottom surface 130, an upper surface 112 including a flatarea, and a deflection part 113 arranged between the side surface 111and the upper surface 112.

Further, the bottom surface 130 and the upper surface 112 of the lensbody may be arranged in parallel.

Here, the side surface 111 may slope with respect to the bottom surface130 and have a curved cross-section, and the deflection part 113 may bean interface between the curved side surface 111 and the flat uppersurface 112 and have a curved cross-section.

The cavity may include a second side surface 120 sloping toward thecentral axis Xcenter at an acute angle θ₂ with respect to the bottomsurface 130, and the second side surface 120 may be the inner surface ofthe lens body.

The second side surface 120 forming the side surface of the cavity maybe arranged so as to form a curved surface and converge onto one pointin an upper region of the cavity, and the ‘curved surface’ havingcurvature may have a discontinuous point C₂ in a convergence region ofthe second side surface 120.

The discontinuous point C₂ is arranged so as to correspond to a centralpoint C₁ of the upper surface of the lens body and a central point C₃ ofa light emitting surface of the light source module 200 in the verticaldirection and, thus, a virtual line connecting the central points C₁ andC₃ and the discontinuous point C₂ may form the central axis Xcenter.

In FIG. 2b , the angle θ₂ formed by the second side surface 120 withrespect to the bottom surface 130 in the direction of the central axisXcenter may be smaller than the angle θ₁ formed by the first sidesurface 111 with respect to the bottom surface 130 in the direction ofthe central axis Xcenter, i.e., the first side surface 111 may bearranged so as to be steeper than the second side surface 120 withrespect to the bottom surface 130 so that the side wall of the cavitymay have a greater angle with respect to the bottom surface than thefirst side surface 111 of the lens body.

At least a part of the light source module 200 may be inserted into thecavity and, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 1b , the second side surface120 may form the side wall of the cavity, the cavity may have an openbottom surface and the bottom surface of the cavity may be parallel tothe bottom surface 130 of the lens body.

In FIG. 2a , a height h₁ from the bottom surface 130 of the lens body tothe upper surface 112 of the lens body may be 1.8 to 2.2 times a heighth₂ from the bottom surface 130 of the lens body to the highest point ofthe cavity, i.e., the discontinuous point C₂.

If a ratio of h1/h2 is less than 1.8, a space of the cavity into whichthe light source module 200 is inserted is excessively widened and thusoptical loss may occur in the cavity, or a thickness from the secondside surface 120 of the lens body to the upper surface 112 isexcessively small and thus paths of light emitted by the light sourcemodule 200 may not be sufficiently changed and, even if an angle θ_(i),which will be described later, is 33 degrees to 38 degrees, a proceedingregion of light emitted by the lens may be narrowed, and, if the ratioof h1/h2 exceeds 2.2, the space of the cavity into which the lightsource module 200 is inserted is excessively narrowed or a size of thelens in the vertical direction is excessively increased and thus pathsof light emitted by the light source module 200 may extend and opticalloss may occur.

Further, a height h₃ from the bottom surface 130 to the light emittingsurface of the light emitting device may be 32% to 48% of the height h₂of the cavity.

If a ratio of h3/h2 is less than 0.32, the space of the cavity intowhich the light source module 200 is inserted is excessively widened andthus optical loss may occur in the cavity, or a volume of the lightsource module 200 inserted into the cavity is excessively decreased andthus, among light emitted by the light source module 200, a quantity oflight proceeding to the upper surface 112 of the lens may be decreasedand a quantity of light proceeding to the first side surface 111 may beincreased. Further, if the ratio of h3/h2 exceeds 0.48, the size of thelens in the vertical direction is excessively increased and thus pathsof light emitted by the light source module 200 may extend and opticalloss may occur.

For example, the height h₁ from the bottom surface 130 of the lens bodyto the upper surface 112 of the lens body may be 5 mm, the height h₂from the bottom surface 130 of the lens body to the discontinuous pointC₂ of the cavity may be 2.50 mm, and the height h₃ from the bottomsurface 130 of the lens body to the light emitting surface of the lightsource module 200 may be 1 mm.

A point, at which a line Xi connecting the central point C₃ of the lightemitting surface of the light source module arranged in the cavity tothe inflection part meets the inflection part, may be defined as ‘i’and, in this case, an angle θ_(i) formed between the central axisXcenter and the above-described line Xi may be 33 to 38 degrees, forexample, be 35 degrees.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the light emitting unit of FIG. 2b and, forconvenience of understanding, the inner surface 120 of the lens body andthe light source module 200 are shown by dotted lines.

A maximum diameter R₁ of the outer surface of the lens may be greaterthan a maximum diameter R₂ of the inner surface of the lenscorresponding to a maximum diameter of the cavity, for example, be 1.25to 1.75 times the maximum diameter R₂. Further, a length W₃₁ of thelight source module 200 in a first direction and a length W₃₂ of thelight source module 200 in a second direction may be equal to each otherand be smaller than the maximum diameter R₂ of the inner surface of thelens.

Further, the widths W₃₁ and W₃₂ of the light emitting surface of thelight emitting device corresponding to the surface of the light sourcemodule may be 40% to 60% of the maximum diameter R₂ of the cavity and,for example, the widths W₃₁ and W₃₂ of the light emitting surface of thelight emitting device may be 3 mm.

FIG. 4a is a view of the light source module in accordance with oneembodiment, arranged in the light emitting unit and FIG. 4b is a viewillustrating a light emitting device of FIG. 4a in accordance with oneembodiment.

The light source module 200 may include a circuit board and a lightemitting device. The circuit board may employ a printed circuit board ora flexible circuit board.

The light emitting device may be a light emitting diode, for example, avertical light emitting device, a horizontal light emitting device or aflip chip-type light emitting deice, and FIG. 4b exemplarily illustratesa vertical light emitting device.

In a light emitting device 210, a bonding layer 214, a reflective layer213 and an ohmic layer 212 may be arranged on a support substrate 215, alight emitting structure 211 may be arranged on the ohmic layer 212, anda channel layer 219 may be arranged at the edge of a lower surface ofthe light emitting structure.

The support substrate 215 is a base substrate formed of at least one ofcopper (Cu), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo) or copper-tungsten(Cu-W). Further, the support substrate 215 may be a carrier wafer formedof, for example, Si, Ge, GaAs, ZnO, SiC, SiGe, Ga₂O₃ or GaN.

The bonding layer 350 may be arranged on the support substrate 215. Thebonding layer 214 may bond the reflective layer 213 to the supportsubstrate 215. The bonding layer 214 may include, for example, at leastone of Ti, Au, Sn, Ni, Cr, Ga, In, Bi, Cu, Ag or Ta.

The reflective layer 213 may be formed on the bonding layer 214. Thereflective layer 213 may be formed of a material having excellentreflection characteristics, for example, one selected from the groupconsisting of silver (Ag), nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), rubidium (Rh),palladium (Pd), iridium (Ir), ruthenium (Ru), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn),platinum (Pt), gold (Au), hafnium (Hf) and selective combinationsthereof, or be formed to have a monolayer structure or a multilayerstructure using the above metals and light transmitting conductivematerials, such as IZO, IZTO, IAZO, IGZO, IGTO, AZO and ATO. Further,the reflective layer 213 may be formed to have a stacked structure, suchas IZO/Ni, AZO/Ag, IZO/Ag/Ni or AZO/Ag/Ni, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto.

The ohmic layer 212 may be formed on the reflective layer 213 and, inthis case, the ohmic layer 212 may be in ohmic contact with the lowersurface of the light emitting structure and be formed as a layer or aplurality of patterns.

The ohmic layer 212 may be formed selectively using a light transmittingelectrode layer and a metal. For example, the ohmic layer 212 may beformed to have a monolayer structure or a multilayer structure using oneor more selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide (ITO),indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), indium aluminumzinc oxide (IAZO), indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), indium gallium tinoxide (IGTO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO),gallium zinc oxide (GZO), IrOx, RuOx, RuOx/ITO, Ni, Ag, Ni/IrOx/Au andNi/IrOx/Au/ITO.

The support substrate 215, the bonding layer 214, the reflective layer213 and the ohmic layer 212 may function as a second electrode andsupply current to the light emitting structure.

The channel layer 219 may be arranged between the second electrode andthe edge of the light emitting structure. The channel layer 219 may bearranged at the edge of the lower surface of the light emittingstructure and be formed of a light transmitting material, for example, ametal oxide, a metal nitride, a light transmitting nitride, a lighttransmitting oxide or a light transmitting insulating layer.

For example, the channel layer 219 may be formed selectively usingindium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), IZO nitride (IZON),indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), indium aluminum zinc oxide (IAZO), indiumgallium zinc oxide (IGZO), indium gallium tin oxide (IGTO), aluminumzinc oxide (AZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), gallium zinc oxide (GZO),SiO₂, SiO_(x), SiO_(x)N_(y), Si₃N₄, Al₂O₃, TiO₂, etc.

The light emitting structure 211 may be arranged on the ohmic layer 212.The light emitting structure 211 may include a first conductivity-typesemiconductor layer 211 a, an active layer 211 b and a secondconductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 c.

The first conductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 a may be formed of acompound semiconductor, i.e., a group III-V or group II-VI compoundsemiconductor, and be doped with a first conductivity-type dopant. Forexample, the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 a may beformed of a semiconductor material having an empirical formula ofAl_(x)In_(y)Ga_(1-x-y)N (0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, 0≤x+y≤1), i.e., one or moreselected from the group consisting of AlGaN, GaN, InAlGaN, AlGaAs, GaP,GaAs, GaAsP and AlGaInP.

If the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 a is an n-typesemiconductor layer, the first conductivity-type dopant may be an n-typedopant, such as Si, Ge, Sn, Se or Te. The first conductivity-typesemiconductor layer 211 a may be formed to have a monolayer structure ora multilayer structure, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

The active layer 211 b may be arranged between the firstconductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 a and the secondconductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 c, and include one of a doublehetero structure, a multi-well structure, a single quantum wellstructure, a multi-quantum well (MQW) structure, a quantum wirestructure and a quantum dot structure.

The active layer 211 b may be formed of a group III-V compoundsemiconductor, have an empirical formula of In_(x)Al_(y)Ga_(1-x-y)N(0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, 0≤x+y≤1) and be formed to have one or more pairedstructures of well and barrier layers, for example, selected from thegroup consisting of AlGaN/AlGaN, InGaN/GaN, InGaN/InGaN, AlGaN/GaN,InAlGaN/GaN, GaAs(InGaAs)/AlGaAs and GaP(InGaP)/AlGaP, but thedisclosure is not limited thereto.

The well layer may be formed of a material having a lower energy bandgapthan the energy bandgap of the barrier layer.

The second conductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 c may be formed ofa compound semiconductor. The second conductivity-type semiconductorlayer 211 c may be formed of a group III-V or group II-VI compoundsemiconductor, and be doped with a second conductivity-type dopant. Forexample, the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 c may beformed of a semiconductor material having an empirical formula ofIn_(x)Al_(y)Ga_(1-x-y)N (0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, 1≤x+y≤1), i.e., one or moreselected from the group consisting of AlGaN, GaNAlInN, AlGaAs, GaP,GaAs, GaAsP and AlGaInP.

If the second conductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 c is a p-typesemiconductor layer, the second conductivity-type dopant may be a p-typedopant, such as Mg, Zn, Ca, Sr or Ba. The second conductivity-typesemiconductor layer 211 c may be formed to have a monolayer structure ora multilayer structure, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Although not shown in the drawings, an electron blocking layer may bearranged between the active layer 211 b and the second conductivity-typesemiconductor layer 211 c. The electron blocking layer may have asuperlattice structure, and, for example, in the superlattice structure,an AlGaN layer doped with a second conductivity-type dopant may bearranged and a plurality of GaN layers having different ratios ofaluminum may be alternately arranged, but the disclosure is not limitedthereto.

A pattern, such as prominences and depressions, may be formed on thesurface of the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 a and maythus improve light extraction efficiency, a first electrode 216 may bearranged on the surface of the first conductivity-type semiconductorlayer 211 a, and the pattern may be formed on the surface of the firstconductivity-type semiconductor layer 211 a, on which the firstelectrode 216 is arranged, as exemplarily shown in these figures, or nopattern may be formed thereon. The first electrode 216 may be formed tohave a monolayer structure or a multilayer structure including at leastone of aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), chrome (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper(Cu) or gold (Au).

A current blocking layer 218 corresponding to the first electrode 216may be arranged under the light emitting structure 211, and the currentblocking layer may be formed of an insulating material and uniformlysupply current, supplied from a direction of the support substrate 215,throughout the entirety of the second conductivity-type semiconductorlayer 211 c. The current blocking layer 218 may be arranged in a regionvertically overlapping the first electrode 216, but the disclosure isnot limited thereto.

A passivation layer 217 may be formed around the light emittingstructure 211. The passivation layer 217 may be formed of an insulatingmaterial, and the insulating material may include a nonconductive oxideor nitride. For example, the passivation layer 217 may include at leastone of a silicon oxide (SiO₂) layer, an oxynitride layer or an aluminumoxide layer.

The light source module 200 is inserted into the cavity of theabove-described lens and may thus form a light emitting unit. Here, theentirety or a part of the light source module 200 may be inserted intothe cavity and, particularly, the light emitting surface of the lightemitting device may be placed within the cavity.

FIG. 5a is a view illustrating a path of light emitted by the lightsource module and discharged to the outside via a first region of thelens, and FIG. 5b is a view illustrating a path of light emitted by thelight source module and discharged to the outside via a second region ofthe lens.

In FIG. 2b , a region proceeding from the point i, at which the line Xiconnecting the central point C₃ of the light emitting surface to theinflection part meets the inflection part, in a direction toward thecentral axis Xcenter may be defined as a first region of the lens or thelens body, and a region proceeding from the point i in the oppositedirection may be defined as a second region of the lens or the lensbody.

As exemplarily shown in FIG. 5a , when light emitted by the light sourcemodule 200 passes through the first region of the lens 100 a and isincident upon the upper surface of the outer surface 110, an angle θ₃₁formed by the light emitted by the light source module 200 with respectto the central axis Xcenter may be smaller than an angle θ₄₁ formed bylight emitted to the outside through the outer surface 110 of the lens100 a with respect to the central axis Xcenter.

Further, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5b , when light emitted by thelight source module 200 passes through the second region of the lens 100a and is incident upon the side surface of the outer surface 110, anangle θ₃₂ formed by the light emitted by the light source module 200with respect to the central axis Xcenter may be greater than an angleθ₄₂ formed by light emitted to the outside through the outer surface 110of the lens 100 a with respect to the central axis Xcenter.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating changes in the light paths at both sidesof the inflection part. A tangential direction and a normal direction atthe interface between the lens body and air are shown by alternatinglong and short dash lines.

According to Snell's law, when light passes through two media havingdifferent refractive indexes, an angle of light in one media having agreater refractive index with respect to a normal of the interface ofthe two media is greater than an angle of light in the other media.

A refractive index of the lens body formed of polycarbonate (PC) isabout 1.58 to 1.60 and is thus greater than a refractive index of airand, therefore, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 6, light L1 inside theinflection part proceeding to air is refracted in an edge direction, ascompared to a light path within the lens body, and light L2 outside theinflection part proceeding to air is reflected in a central direction,as compared to a light path within the lens body.

Light emitted by the light source module shown in FIG. 5a passes throughthe first region of the lens and may thus proceed to a central region,as compared to light passing through the second region of the lens,shown in FIG. 5b . Therefore, light passing through the central regionof the lens may proceed at a larger angle, and light passing through theedge region of the lens may proceed at a smaller angle. Therefore,uniformity of light in an area of the outside corresponding to thecentral region of the lens may be improved, and light may beconcentrated on an area within a designated range outside the lens.

FIGS. 7a and 7b are graphs representing change in ratios of theabove-described angles θ₄₁/θ₃₁ and θ₄₂/θ₃₂, when a size of the lens isvaried, the vertical axis represents the ratio of the above-describedangles θ₄₁/θ₃₁ or θ₄₂/θ₃₂, and the horizontal axis represents the angleθ_(i) formed between the central axis Xcenter and the line Xi.

In the graph of FIG. 7a , if the height of the light source module is 1and the lengths of the light emitting surface in the horizontal andvertical directions are equal, the height of the outer surface of thelens is 5 times the height of the light source module, the height of theinner surface of the lens is 2.5 times the height of the light sourcemodule, and the diameter of the outer surface of the lens is 1.6 timesthe diameter of the inner surface of the lens.

In the graph of FIG. 7b , the same conditions as in FIG. 7a are appliedexcept that the diameter of the outer surface of the lens is 80% thediameter of the outer surface of the lens of FIG. 7 a.

It may be understood from FIGS. 7a and 7b that, when light emitted bythe light source module passes through a region within a range of anangle of about 35 degrees or less from the central axis, i.e., the firstregion of the lens, light emitted through the outer surface of the lensmay proceed at a greater angle than an angle of light emitted by thelight source module angle. Further, it may be understood that, whenlight emitted by the light source module passes through a region withina range of an angle of about 35 degrees or more from the central axis,i.e., the second region of the lens, light emitted through the outersurface of the lens may proceed at a smaller angle than an angle oflight emitted by the light source module.

The above-described lens may have average illuminance of 4 lux or morein the outer area and luminance uniformity of 0.5 or more.

Here, the average illuminance may be measured in an area having ahorizontal length of 8 m and a vertical length of 4 m if the lens isarranged at a height of 4 m from the bottom surface, in an area having ahorizontal length of 12 m and a vertical length of 6 m if the lens isarranged at a height of 5 m from the bottom surface, and in an areahaving a horizontal length of 16 m and a vertical length of 8 m if thelens is arranged at a height of 6 m from the bottom surface.

Further, luminance uniformity is a value acquired by dividing a minimumluminance value measured in the above-described area by a maximumluminance value.

Table 1 represents luminous efficacy, average illuminance and luminanceuniformity, when the angle formed by the inflection part with respect tothe central axis of the lens is varied.

TABLE 1 Luminous Average Luminance Angle (θ_(i)) efficacy illuminanceuniformity Remark 35.97 0.532 4.399 0.542 FIG. 7a 35.97 0.670 5.5120.543 FIG. 7b 32.13 0.582 4.855 0.493 33.11 0.566 4.723 0.506 37.770.494 4.130 0.590 38.69 0.488 3.984 0.602

It may be understood from Table 1 in that the lens in accordance withthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b has average illuminance which isgreater than 4.0 and luminance uniformity which is 0.5 or more.

It may be understood that, if the above-described angle θ_(i) is lessthan 33 degrees, luminance uniformity is decreased to 0.5 or less and,if the angle θ_(i) is greater than 38 degrees, average illuminance isdecreased to 4.0 or less.

When the light emitting unit including the above-described lens is usedas a lighting apparatus, for example, a security light illuminating adesignated area, the lens maintains average illuminance of 4.0 or lessand luminance uniformity of 0.5 or more and may thus uniformlyilluminate the designated area with a designated brightness or more.FIG. 8a is a perspective view of a lens in accordance with a firstembodiment, as seen from the top, and FIG. 8b is a perspective view of alight emitting unit including the lens of FIG. 8a , as seen from thebottom.

A lens 110 b in accordance with this embodiment may include a lens body,the lens body may include an outer surface exposed to the outside and aninner surface 120 forming a side wall of a cavity formed in the lensbody, and the outer surface and the inner surface 120 may be connectedat a bottom surface 130 of the lens body.

Further, the outer surface of the lens body may include a transmissionregion 110 a and a reflection region 110 b, and the transmission region110 a and the reflection region 110 b may be symmetrical to each otherabout the vertical direction of the lens body without being limitedthereto.

A pattern, which is carved in relief or in intaglio on the outersurface, may be formed in the reflection region 110 b, and the patternin relief or in intaglio may be nonuniform and have a smaller size thana diameter R₁ of the outer surface of the lens 110 b. The pattern may beformed by etching or sanding the outer surface during a process ofmanufacturing the lens 110 b.

Further, a light emitting device module 200 is arranged in the cavity,and the light emitting device module 200 in accordance with thisembodiment may be the same as that in accordance with theabove-described embodiment.

FIGS. 9a and 9b are cross-sectional views of the lens of FIG. 8 a.

The outer surface of the lens body may include a first side surface 111sloping toward a central axis Xcenter at an acute angle θ₁ with respectto the bottom surface 130, an upper surface 112 including a flat area,and a deflection part 113 arranged between the side surface 111 and theupper surface 112.

Here, the side surface 111 may slope with respect to the bottom surface130 and have a curved cross-section, and the deflection part 113 may bean interface between the curved side surface 111 and the flat uppersurface 112 and have a curved cross-section.

The cavity may include a second side surface 120 sloping toward thecentral axis Xcenter at an acute angle θ₂ with respect to the bottomsurface 130, and the second side surface 120 may be the inner surface ofthe lens body.

The second side surface 120 forming the side surface of the cavity maybe arranged so as to form a curved surface and converge onto one pointin an upper region of the cavity, and the ‘curved surface’ havingcurvature may have a discontinuous point C₂ in a convergence region ofthe second side surface 120.

The discontinuous point C₂ is arranged so as to correspond to a centralpoint C₁ of the upper surface of the lens body and a central point C₃ ofa light emitting surface of the light source module 200 in the verticaldirection and, thus, a virtual line connecting the central points C₁ andC₃ and the discontinuous point C₂ may form the central axis Xcenter.

The ‘central axis’ may be arranged in the vertical direction of the lens110 b and, in FIGS. 9a and 9b , a left side of the lens based on thecentral axis may be the reflection region 110 b and a right side of thelens based on the central axis may be the transmission region 110 a.

In FIG. 9b , an angle θ₂ formed by the second side surface 120 withrespect to the bottom surface 130 in the direction of the central axisXcenter may be smaller than an angle θ₁ formed by the first side surface111 with respect to the bottom surface 130 in the direction of thecentral axis Xcenter, i.e., the first side surface 111 may be arrangedso as to be steeper than the second side surface 120 with respect to thebottom surface 130.

Further, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 8b , a region of the bottomsurface 130 of the lens body corresponding to the bottom surface of thecavity may be open so that at least a part of the light source module200 may be inserted into the cavity.

In FIG. 9a , a height h₁ from the bottom surface 130 of the lens body tothe upper surface 112 of the lens body may be 1.8 to 2.2 times a heighth₂ from the bottom surface 130 of the lens body to the highest point ofthe cavity, i.e., the discontinuous point C₂.

If a ratio of h1/h2 is less than 1.8, a space of the cavity into whichthe light source module 200 is inserted is excessively widened and thusoptical loss may occur in the cavity, or a thickness from the secondside surface 120 of the lens body to the upper surface 112 isexcessively small and thus paths of light emitted by the light sourcemodule 200 may not be sufficiently changed and, even if an angle whichwill be described later, is 33 to 38 degrees, a proceeding region oflight emitted by the lens may be narrowed, and, if the ratio of h1/h2exceeds 2.2, the space of the cavity into which the light source module200 is inserted is excessively narrowed or a size of the lens in thevertical direction is excessively increased and thus paths of lightemitted by the light source module 200 may extend and optical loss mayoccur.

Further, a height h₃ from the bottom surface 130 to the light emittingsurface of the light emitting device may be 32% to 48% of the height h₂of the cavity.

If a ratio of h3/h2 is less than 0.32, the space of the cavity intowhich the light source module 200 is inserted is excessively widened andthus optical loss may occur in the cavity, or a volume of the lightsource module 200 inserted into the cavity is excessively decreased andthus, among light emitted by the light source module 200, a quantity oflight proceeding to the upper surface 112 of the lens may be decreasedand a quantity of light proceeding to the first side surface 111 may beincreased. Further, if the ratio of h3/h2 exceeds 0.48, the size of thelens in the vertical direction is excessively increased and thus pathsof light emitted by the light source module 200 may extend and opticalloss may occur.

For example, the height h₁ from the bottom surface 130 of the lens bodyto the upper surface 112 of the lens body may be 5 mm, the height h₂from the bottom surface 130 of the lens body to the discontinuous pointC₂ of the cavity may be 2.50 mm, and the height h₃ from the bottomsurface 130 of the lens body to the light emitting surface of the lightsource module 200 may be 1 mm.

A point, at which a line Xi connecting the central point C₃ of the lightemitting surface of the light source module arranged in the cavity tothe inflection part meets the inflection part, may be defined as ‘i’and, in this case, an angle θ_(i) formed between the central axisXcenter and the above-described line Xi may be 33 to 38 degrees, forexample, be 35 degrees.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the light emitting unit of FIG. 9b and, forconvenience of understanding, the inner surface 120 of the lens body andthe light source module 200 are shown by dotted lines.

A maximum diameter R₁ of the outer surface of the lens may be greaterthan a maximum diameter R₂ of the inner surface of the lenscorresponding to a maximum diameter of the cavity, for example, be 1.25to 1.75 times the maximum diameter R₂. Further, a length W₃₁ of thelight source module 200 in a first direction and a length W₃₂ of thelight source module 200 in a second direction may be equal to each otherand be smaller than the maximum diameter R₂ of the inner surface of thelens.

Further, the widths W₃₁ and W₃₂ of the light emitting surface of thelight emitting device corresponding to the surface of the light sourcemodule may be 40% to 60% of the maximum diameter R₂ of the cavity and,for example, the widths W₃₁ and W₃₂ of the light emitting surface of thelight emitting device may be 3 mm.

FIGS. 11a to 11j are views illustrating change in a portion providedwith a pattern in a reflection region of the outer surface of the lens,FIGS. 12a to 12j are views illustrating light distributions in upper andlower regions of FIGS. 11a to 11j , and FIG. 12k is a view illustratinglight distributions if no pattern is formed on the outer surface of thelens.

A pattern may be arranged in the entirety of the reflection region 110 bof the outer surface of the lens, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 11a , orbe arranged in a portion of the reflection region 110 b of the outersurface of the lens, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 11b to 11 j.

As exemplarily shown in FIG. 11a , a pattern is arranged in the entiretyof the reflection region 110 b of the lens.

As exemplarily shown in FIGS. 11b to 11j , a pattern may be arranged ina portion of the reflection region 110 b of the lens and, if thediameter of the outer surface of the lens 110 b is ‘R₁’, as exemplarilyshown in FIG. 10, a length of a portion provided with the pattern in thehorizontal direction may be 0.1R₁ to 0.9R₁.

Here, the above-described length within the range of 0.1R₁ to 0.9R₁ isnot a length of the surface of the portion provided with the pattern butis a length of the cross-section of the portion provided with thepattern in the horizontal direction.

Further, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 11b to 11j , the length of theportion, provided with the pattern, in the reflection region 110 b inthe horizontal direction may be 0.1R₁ to 0.9R₁, the length of theportion in the vertical direction may be fixed, for example, be ‘h₁’shown in FIG. 2a , without being limited thereto, and such a length willbe described later with reference to FIGS. 13a to 13 c.

When the pattern is arranged in the reflection region, as exemplarilyshown in FIGS. 11a to 11j , among light emitted by the light sourcemodule, at least a part of light proceeding to the reflection region maybe reflected by the pattern and, thus a ratio of light proceeding to theoutside of the reflection region/light proceeding to the outside of thetransmission region may be less than 1.

In FIGS. 12a to 12k , left views illustrate distributions of lightproceeding to the upper regions in FIGS. 11a to 11j , and right viewsillustrate distributions of light proceeding to the lower regions. Here,‘upper region’ and ‘lower region’ mean a region above a horizontal lineand a region below the horizontal line, respectively, in FIGS. 11 a to11 j.

In FIG. 12a , the pattern on the surface of the lens reflects light anda quantity of light emitted by the lens is mainly distributed in theupper region and, as the area of the pattern on the surface of the lensis decreased, as exemplarily shown FIGS. 12b to 12j , a quantity oflight in the upper region and a quantity of light in the lower regiongradually become similar to each other. In FIGS. 12a to 12j , a portiondisplayed in the deepest color, for example, in red, may have thehighest illuminance and a portion displayed in the lightest color, forexample, in blue, may have the lowest illuminance.

FIG. 12k illustrates that, if no pattern is formed on the outer surfaceof the lens, a quantity of light in the upper region and a quantity oflight in the lower region are approximately equal to each other.

If lenses or light emitting units having the light distributions shownin FIGS. 12a to 12d are arranged such that lower reflection regions facea house side and upper transmission regions face a street side, lightmay be transmitted only to the street side and light transmitted to thehouse side may be blocked or a quantity thereof may be reduced.

FIGS. 13a to 13c are views illustrating pattern distribution ranges inthe reflection region of the outer surface of the lens.

FIG. 13a is similar to FIG. 11d but a reflection region 110 b providedwith a pattern has a rectangular shape, and, in FIG. 13a , a horizontallength of the reflection region 110 may be 0.65R₁ to 0.75R₁ and avertical length L₁-L₂ of the reflection region 110 may be 65% to 75% ofthe radius R_(1/2) of the lens.

As compared to FIG. 11d , in FIG. 13a , no pattern may be arranged in aregion from the lower end of the reflection region 110 b to a height L₂.Even if no pattern is arranged in the region from the lower end of thereflection region 110 b to the height L₂ shown in FIGS. 11a to 11j ,light paths may be similar to those in FIGS. 11a to 11j . Here, theheight L₂ of the region provided with no pattern may be 25% to 35% ofthe radius R_(1/2) of the lens, and no pattern is arranged in the regionhaving the height L₂ and thus does not significantly affect a quantityof light emitted to the outside of the lens.

FIG. 13b is similar to FIG. 11d but a pattern is arranged only in aregion within a range of 60% to 70% of the diameter of the lens, i.e.,0.6R₁ to 0.7R₁, from the center of the lens and, even if no pattern isarranged in a region outside the above-described region, i.e., deviatingfrom the range of 0.6R₁ to 0.7R₁ from the center, light paths may besimilar to those in FIGS. 11a to 11 j.

In FIG. 13c , a rectangular region shown in a solid line and a regionprovided with a pattern and shown in a dotted line do not coincide witheach other. Due to a margin in a pattern formation process, both sideedges of the pattern are spaced apart from vertical lines Xy and Xv bydesignated distances L₃ and L₄. Here, there may be little differencebetween light paths if the distances L₃ and L₄ are respectively 10% orless of a length L_(H) of the pattern in the horizontal direction andlight paths if a pattern is arranged in the rectangular region shown inthe solid line.

Table 2 represents change in a ratio of light proceeding to the outsideof the reflection region/light proceeding to the outside of thetransmission region according to increase in the portion provided withthe pattern, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 11a to 11j , and FIG. 14 is agraph representing Table 2. In FIG. 14, the horizontal axis representsthe length of the pattern in the horizontal direction, and the verticalaxis represents the ratio of light proceeding to the outside of thereflection region/light proceeding to the outside of the transmissionregion.

TABLE 2 Ratio of light proceeding Length of Length of to outside ofreflection pattern in pattern in region/light proceeding to verticalhorizontal outside of transmission Division direction direction regionFIG. 8a 0 0 1.00052 FIG. 11a 100% 100%  0.657167 FIG. 11b 100% 90%0.656868 FIG. 11c 100% 80% 0.659242 FIG. 11d 100% 70% 0.680722 FIG. 11e100% 60% 0.713658 FIG. 11f 100% 50% 0.748497 FIG. 11g 100% 40% 0.792292FIG. 11h 100% 30$ 0.843908 FIG. 11i 100% 20% 0.898898 FIG. 11j 100% 10%0.951805

The lens shown in FIG. 1a is provided with no pattern and thus aquantity of light proceeding to the outside of the reflection region anda quantity of light proceeding to the outside of the transmission regionare approximately equal to each other.

It may be understood that, when the lengths of the portions providedwith a pattern in the reflection regions 110 b of the lenses shown inFIGS. 11a to 11d are 0.7R₁ to 0.9R₁, a quantity of light proceeding tothe outside of the reflection region is 70% or less than a quantity oflight proceeding to the outside of the transmission region.

If a lens or a light emitting unit having the above-described structureis arranged such that a reflection region faces a house side and atransmission region faces a street side, a quantity of light transmittedto the house side may be less than 70% of a quantity of lighttransmitted to the street side due to action of a pattern arranged inthe reflection region of the lens and, thus, the lens or the lightemitting unit may be used as a streetlamp.

Further, if the lens or the light emitting unit having theabove-described structure is used as a security light, the lens or thelight emitting unit may concentrate light on some area of a specificregion. Although the preferred embodiments have been disclosed forillustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatvarious modifications, applications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.For example, respective elements of the embodiments may be modified.Further, it should be understood that differences regarding themodifications and applications are within the spirit and scope of thedisclosure which is defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A lens and a light emitting unit including the same in accordance withone embodiment may be used as, for example, a streetlamp.

1. A lens comprising: a lens body; and a cavity disposed in the lensbody, wherein an outer surface of the lens body comprises a first sidesurface sloping toward a central axis at an acute angle with respect toa bottom surface of the lens body, an upper surface comprising a flatarea, and an inflection part disposed between the first side surface andthe upper surface, and wherein the cavity comprises a second sidesurface sloping toward the central axis at an acute angle with respectto the bottom surface.
 2. The lens according to claim 1, wherein theinflection part has a curved cross-section.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The lensaccording to claim 1, wherein the second side surface forms a curvedsurface toward the central axis.
 5. The lens according to claim 4,wherein the second side converges in an upper region of the cavity, andthe curved surface with curvature has a discontinuous point in aconvergence region of the second side surface.
 6. The lens according toclaim 1, wherein an angle formed by the second side surface in thedirection of the central axis with respect to the bottom surface issmaller than an angle formed by the first side surface in the directionof the central axis with respect to the bottom surface.
 7. The lensaccording to claim 1, wherein a region of the bottom surface of the lensbody corresponding to a bottom surface of the cavity is open.
 8. Thelens according to claim 1, wherein a height from the bottom surface ofthe lens body to the upper surface of the lens body is 1.8 to 2.2 timesa height from the bottom surface of the lens body to a highest point ofthe cavity.
 9. The lens according to claim 1, wherein a line connectinga central point of a light emitting surface of a light source arrangedin the cavity to the inflection part is inclined at an angle of 33degrees to 38 degrees with respect to the central axis.
 10. The lensaccording to claim 1, wherein a maximum diameter of the outer surface ofthe lens body is 1.25 times to 1.75 times a maximum diameter of thecavity.
 11. A lens comprising: a lens body; and a cavity disposed in thelens body, wherein an outer surface of the lens body comprises areflection region and a transmission region, and a pattern is arrangedin the reflection region.
 12. The lens according to claim 11, whereinthe reflection region and the transmission region are symmetrical toeach other about a vertical direction of the lens body.
 13. The lensaccording to claim 11, wherein the pattern is carved in relief or inintaglio on the outer surface of the lens body.
 14. The lens accordingto claim 11, wherein, when a diameter of the outer surface of the lensbody is defined as R₁, a horizontal length of a cross-section of aportion, provided with the pattern, of the reflection region is 0.7R₁ ormore.
 15. A light emitting unit comprising: a lens comprising a lensbody and a cavity disposed in the lens body, an outer surface of thelens body comprising a first side surface sloping toward a central axisat an acute angle with respect to a bottom surface of the lens body, anupper surface comprising a flat area, and an inflection part disposedbetween the first side surface and the upper surface; and a light sourcemodule arranged in the lens, wherein the cavity comprises a second sidesurface sloping toward the central axis at an acute angle with respectto the bottom surface, and wherein the light source module comprises acircuit board and a light emitting device, and a light emitting surfaceof the light emitting device is placed within the cavity.
 16. The lightemitting unit according to claim 15, wherein, when light emitted by thelight source module is incident on the upper surface, an angle formed bythe light emitted by the light source module with respect to the centralaxis is smaller than an angle formed by light emitted to the outsidethrough the outer surface of the lens with respect to the central axis.17. The light emitting unit according to claim 15, wherein, when lightemitted by the light source module is incident on the side surface, anangle formed by the light emitted by the light source module withrespect to the central axis is greater than an angle formed by lightemitted to the outside through the outer surface of the lens withrespect to the central axis.
 18. The light emitting unit according toclaim 15, wherein widths of the light emitting surface of the lightemitting device are 40% to 60% of a maximum diameter of the cavity. 19.The light emitting unit according to claim 15, wherein a height from thebottom surface to the light emitting surface of the light emittingdevice is 32% to 48% of a height of the cavity.
 20. The light emittingunit according to claim 15, wherein the outer surface of the lens bodyfurther comprises a reflection region and a transmission region, and apattern is arranged in the reflection region.
 21. The lens according toclaim 1, wherein the bottom surface and the upper surface of the lensbody are arranged in parallel.